Reenforced piling



June 9, 1931. J. M. STRAUB' REENFORCED FILING Filed March 51', 1930 IN VEN TOR.

A TTORNEY l atented June 9, 1931 UNITED s'rnrlazs PATENT] orrlcs.

JAMES M. STRAUIB, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO ELECTRIC WELD- 'ING COMPANY, or PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA,

VANIA a oonronnrron or PENNSYL- nnnnrononn FILING Application filed. March 31, 1930. Serial No. 440,212.

My invention relates to improvements in reinforced concrete piles and similar structures which are usually driven into the ground by a series of blows, for the purpose of maintaining and supporting superimposed loads or superstructure, as is commonly done by ordinary wooden piling.

The invention has in view to provide a reinforced pile of such character. in which the main body portion is composed of cement, preferably a strong weight-supporting body of sand or other suitable aggregate, mixed with cement and water, and hardened in the customary manner. i

The entire pile embodies longitudinaland annular reinforcing members as to its main middle body portion, together with supplemental additional useful features maintaining integrity of the pile under the driving blows, at the upper end; an improved piercingv or point construction at its opposite or entering end; means for maintaining the longitudinal reinforcing members in the manner of spacing rings of improved construction; and certain other features of novelty and advantage, as shall be morefully hereinafter described. i

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal skeleton view of the pile partly broken away at its middle,illustrating the general outline of the cement body, the reinforcing elements being shown in elevation;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional detail view of the piercing end of the pile;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line IIIIII of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an end view of the piercing end of the pile in elevation;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the opposite or driving end of the pile, in section; s p V Fig. 6. is a transverse section on the line VI-VI of Fig. 5; i i

Fig. 7 is a perspective detail view showing the outer ends of the longitudinal reinforcing members and their surrounding wire wrapping;

Fig. 8 is a perspective detail view showing the manner of spacing and holding the longitudinal reinforcing members by my improved spacing ring. p

The pile as a whole is indicated by the let- 'ter A, of either cylindrical, hexagonal, or other polygonal form in cross section. The main body of the pile, as stated, is of concrete 2 which is cast or poured in a suitable mold for formation of its exterior surface and shape, and surrounding the entire skeleton reinforcing body composed of the several elements hereinafter described. Of these the main reinforcing members are the longitudinal rods or bars 3 of round, square orother shape, preferably steel, which extend substantially the entire length of the body of the pile, terminating near its upper end, as in Figs. 5 and 7.

' Rods 3 are crossed at their outer ends in U shape as shown, and may be of two main pairs connected by the integral cross bars 4,

welded or otherwise secured together if desired, and provided with a preliminary. reinforcing wrapping 5 of wirelaidin a continuous spiral,'as shown.

-Wire' 5 may be connected at intervals with the longitudinal strand members? if desired, by wrapping, welding or in any other suitable manner, so that when these several parts are combinedin the manner shown, they form a cage-like skeleton with ample intervening spacing for flow of the concrete when poured. Supplemental shorter reinforcing members 3a are preferably utilized, located annularly between the main members 3, providing additional reinforcement at the middle portion of the pile,'tending to stiffen it against flexure under the strains of driving and handling.

At the opposite or enteringend the members 3 are sloped inwardly toward each other, as at '6, and are brought together in a group of four main termials 7, which are welded together co-extensive of their straight extension, forming aterminal substantially onepiece projection from the longitudinally reinforcing members,,and capable of actingas a piercing point in driving.

The surrounding outer surface of the body of the pile is similarly tapered for facilitating driving entrance, and is enclosed within a coni-form sheath or cap 8 terminatingat its inner end closely around and against the complete article is removed.

As thus constructed the point of the pile is strong and of simple, cheap construction, utilizing the reinforcing members themselves in lieu of a supplemental or additional entering or piercing point.

Surrounding the outer end portion of the cage-like reinforcing members 3 in their assembled and connected generally cylindrical form, and telescoping over them for any desired distance, is the outer reinforcing cage or framing shown in detail in Fig. 5. Such cage consists of a series of longitudinal bars 9 of sufiicient width to provide along their middle portion for punching out the sets of pairs of retaining lugs 10 from the middle portion of the bar, at closely located intervals.

A corresponding series of annular rings 11 are associated with the bars 9 and connected thereto by embracing engagement of the punched-out lugs 10, thereby being firmly spaced apart and located and effecting an embracing andsupporting connection with the reinforcing bars 9 in the form of a cylindrical open-space cage; As stated, and as shown in Fig. 5, such cage is telescoped over the outer end of the main reinforcing bar members, snn y fitting over the wrapping wires 5 thereo f, and being thus temporarily held-in suitable concentric relation within the mold during the pouring of the concrete.

For the purpose of further reinforcing the driving head of the pile, I insert within the outer end of such supplemental cage, within the inner edges of the main reinforcing bars, a mat-like helical layer of spaced-apart wires 12.

Such wires are preferably composed of a single strand wound as shown, spaced apart and embedded in the concrete closely adjacent the face 13 of its driving end. v

The advantage of such construction is that the comparatively thin face of the concrete end of the pile is reinforced, tending to avoid cracking or abrasion, while also providing a metallic face for receiving the blows of the driving head, should the outer concrete face become worn away.

The advantage of such construction in a device of the character involved is very considerable and important, avoiding the trouble and expense of capping or otherwise reinforcing the pile either during or after the driving operation.

The reinforcing rods 3 and 3aare preferably connected at one or more locations lengthwise of the middle body portion of the pile by means of a reinforclng ring 14, of

" channel form or other structural shape. The

web of the ring 14 is punched out, providing separated lugs 15, which are bent around the rods 8 and 3a, fixedly spacing them apart and tending to further reinforce the body portion of the pile while assisting the holding of the parts in position during pouring and hardening of the concrete.

The entire pile as thus constructed is ex tremely strong and eilicient, capable of maintaini'ng tremendous loads and of being handled or shipped without breakage or impairment, while having the particular advantages as to driving above noted.

It is comparatively simple in construction, composed of commercial shapes which are easily available, and may be made without the requirement of skilled labor.

It will. be understood that the pile may be made in various sizes as to length or diameter, or otherwise varied or changed by the skilled mechanic to adapt it to the purposes in view, but that all such advantages are to be understood as within the scope of the following claims.

\Vhat I claim is: v

1. A pile of the kind disclosed composed of a continuous body of concrete having a series ofpairs of internal longitudinal reinforcing rods having diametrically crossed U-shaped ends terminating near the driving head of the pile and provided with spirally wound retaining wires, and a. surrounding cage-like reinforcing head telescoped thereover in tight engagement with said wires and forming an extension of the reinforcing rods.

A pile of the kind disclosed composed of a continuous body of concrete having a series of pairs of internal longitudinal reinforcing rods having diametrically crossed U- shaped ends terminating near the driving head of the pile and provided with spirally wound retaining wires, and a surrounding cage-like reinforcing head telescoped thereover in tight engagement with said wires and forming an extension of the reinforcing rods, said cage-like head being provided with a transverse reinforcing coil imbedded in the concrete head of the pile.

, In a concrete pile, the combination with the driving head portion of thepile, of pairs of longitudinal reinforcing rods having diametrically crossed U-shaped ends terminat ing within the body of the pile near its end and welded together, wrapping wires therefor, and a supplemental reinforcing extension consisting of a series of longitudinally connected rings tightly engaging the wrapping wires extending over and beyond the rods and having a mat-like transverse reinforcin section of metal within the outer end of said extension near the end surface of the pile.

4. In a concrete pile, the combination with the driving head portion of the pile, of longitudinal reinforcing rods bent in U shape and crossing each other and welded together within the body of the pile near its end, wrapping wires therefor, and a supplemental reinforcing cage-like extension telesco ed over and beyond the rods in tight embracmg engagement with the wrapping wires and terminating adjacent the driving end of the pile.

5. In a concrete pile, the combination with the driving head portion of the pile, of longitudinal reinforcing rods bent in U-shape and crossing each other and tightly connected together at their junctions within the body of the pile near its end, a spirally wound wrapping of retaining wire enclosing the rods, a supplemental reinforcing cage-like extension telescoped over and beyond the rods and tightly engaging such winding and terminating adjacent. the driving end of the pile, and a spacing ring having punched-out lugs engaging the reinforcing rods.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

JAMES M. STRAUB. 

